spacetoday.net: Ariane, Atlas win commercial launch orders

Posted: Tue, Sep 10, 2013, 9:40 AM ET (1340 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch of Eutelat 25B/GSAT-7 (Arianespace)

Arianespace announced Monday five new contracts for launches of commercial satellites on its workhorse Ariane 5 rocket, while Lockheed Martin announced a rare commercial launch contract for the Atlas 5. Arianespace said Monday it had won contracts to launch communications satellites for Intelsat, SkyPerfect JSAT, Star One, and two for DirecTV. The launches are slated for 2015 and 2016, all using Ariane 5 rockets. Arianespace also announced a contract with the government of Brazil to launch a civil/military communications satellite in 2016, also on an Ariane 5. Arianespace has performed four Ariane 5 launches so far this year, with a fifth planned for December. Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services also announced Monday it had won a contract for the launch of Mexico's Morelos 3 satellite on an Atlas 5 as early as 2015 from Cape Canaveral. The contract is a rare commercial launch order for the Atlas 5, which primarily serves US government customers.